User:Iortyange

About Iortyange
My name is Iortyange S.I.

I started providing IT services the local community of Kaduna in 2001, and then included selling computers. I soon set up a small computer training centre to help improve computer literacy, sometimes for free. In order to reach others who would not come to my centre, I put some of my notes online for free use.

Later, I began combining my years of experience in insurance underwriting to provide custom computer services to some insurance companies in Kaduna, Nigeria. Some of these companies were just embracing computers and the machines were grossly underutilised. I recall that what many of them could do with computers was to type letters. Internet connectivity and the use of web services were little known and not considered important.

I first began by helping those who would allow it to get connected to the internet using NITEL the only available service provider (email services were only available via the Nigerian Postal Service (Nipost). Over time, internet cafes sprung providing various speeds of internet connectivity; with the arrival of GSM services in Nigeria in late 2001 internet usage became more widespread. The GSM and CDMA services revolutionlised internet connectivity providing broadband connections and increasing web usage.  By 2004, mobile services had grown beyond mobile voice calls and internet browsing; several Nigerian firms were already having web presence and some of them providing mobile services with short codes. I began to exploit the opportunity of building websites for fees.

That was years ago. Internet connectivity has become commonplace in Kaduna in particular and Nigeria in general. I have settled for web hosting grooming web designers, SMS distribution, and though, I still provide IT services, I am engrossed in enrolling people for pensions and insurance consultancy for (computer or (ICT) related risks and other insurance policies).

Being a Tiv myself, I have developed a passion to help young web users to learn more about Tiv language, which is Nigeria's fourth largest language. In my spare time, I create web pages targeted at Tiv people such as the Ate-u-Tiv project. I believe that with the help of others who are versed in the language, we can provide good tutelage and make more information available on the language.